Call for tenders for the development of WISE-Marine for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive
The European Commission has published a call for the development of Water Information System for Europe (WISE)-Marine for the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) requires Member States to develop marine strategies in order to maintain or achieve good environmental status by 2020 and ensure the sustainable use of marine goods and services. Like the Water Framework Directive (WFD), it provides a comprehensive and long-term management process of the environmental issues affecting the aquatic environment, in this case the marine environment under Member States' sovereignty or jurisdiction. The MSFD also complements the WFD, extending environmental protection to marine waters in the European sea regions. This includes the coastal waters covered by the WFD (but excludes the transitional waters). Overall, WISE is the 'water'-related component of the European Shared Environmental Information System, with WISE-Marine being developed as a module. The European Commission intends to ensure that the development of WISE-Marine takes full advantage of other developments in the sphere of marine data and information provision, such as the development of a GMES (Global Monitoring for the Environment and Security) Marine Service component and the development of a European marine observation and data network.To see the official call announcement, please consult: OJ No S 142 of 27 July 2011(opens in new window)